Skullgirls Encore (PS3): "The Good, The Bad & The Sugar Coated"

If you missed it a couple of years back a developer by the name 'Autumn Games" co-produced a fighter titled, "Skullgirls" with another development team known as 'Lab Zero Games'. Together these two studios got on board with 'Konami' to bring to the fighting game community what was suppsoed to be a fresh, and innovative take on the 2D fighting game genre. The teams working on the game incorporated impressive hand drawn character animations with a somewhat mature theme, and a fighting system that mirrored that of previous MvC (Marvel vs Capcom) offerings. While there were definitely nods to other fighting games via color palettes, and fighting styles the game did one important thing differently. That thing of course was a way to fight back against spammers. This innovative mechanic allowed spam assaulted players to break free of a combo if the player dishing out the attacks repeated the same combo twice. In essence it did work out properly, but in an unfortunate turn of events exploiters found a way to perform infinites despite the applied mechanic, and in turn ruined the game's intended experience.

Dustforce (PS3)

Retro gaming FTW!!! Any time a game developer (particularly an indie studio) takes an old idea, or ideas and makes it their own in a successful manner I become ecstatic as a gaming enthusiast. While it's often times hard not to come off seeming like someone ripping off another idea I think "HitBox" did good with "Dustforce". This indie-like title which contains elements of the classic "Prince of Persia", and "Sonic the Hedgehog" did good to stray away from any blatant misuse of such clone worthy material. In the end what they created was an offline, and online experience that caters not only to the gamer who is looking for something new, but also an experience that caters to the more competitive gamer. Through simple controls, and challenging arcade style gameplay HitBox, and their publisher Capcom aim to capture your attention with one of the more noteworthy gaming experiences of early 2014.

OlliOlli (PS VITA)

If you've ever wondered what a Tony Hawk's 2D side-scrolling skateboarding game would be like the developers at Roll7 have the perfect answer for you. OlliOlli which happens to be the name of their creation is in essence what Tony Hawk's Pro Skater would have been if it were made back in the retro gaming era. It features highly interactive, and layered 2D landscapes filled with plenty of skateboarding obstacles. At the helm of this radical action game is a generic pixel constructed skateboarding protagonist whom the gamer guides throughout the various courses. There's plenty of variety in the way of level layouts, and a wide variety of challenges that are setup in a mobile gaming format (i.e., Angry Birds) for this manly master of skateboarding stardom to trick, and grind through. At the core of it the protagonist (you) will be grinding, flipping, and performing advanced tricks via your applied left thumbstick, and "X" button inputs. The real trick though lies with your timing, and landing of each maneuver. As with Activision's Tony Hawk's skating franchise you'll find that your score comes from completing level specific tasks, and the combination of tricks/grinds that you land. Thrown in for good measure you'll also find that collecting certain in-game icons as well as doing certain tasks during a skate through will help you to unlock the more challenging level difficulties for later playthroughs.

Doodle Devil (PS VITA)

Before "Doodle Devil" ever made it's jump over to the PS Vita it was actually a mobile game for such formats as iOS. The game's layout, and gameplay mechanics are of the simplest kind, and use simple point and click icon/element combinations to sway the outcome of mankind's fate. Doodle Devil itself takes in account the devil's job to end mankind, and his goal to bring about the final war. As the gamer you play as the devil, and combine various elements in order to create the things necessary to bring about the end. The elements range from your basic fire, wind, and water elements to various forms of life itself. Mankind, it's ideals, and it's inventions also play a crucial role in getting the devil what he wants. On the devil's side there's also the influence of various sins which change the eternal balance in his favor. By simply clicking on, and combining certain groups of two elements you can in essence ruin creation.

Resogun (PS4)

When it comes to indie shmup concepts I think "Resogun" easily earns it's place amongst the best. This eye-popping spectacle of a twin-stick shooter will either put you into a seizure induced spasm due to sensory overload, or will have you staring at the screen in amazement as next-gen special effects fill the screen in front of you. The idea behind this shooter is a simple yet effective one. As mankind's last hope you are piloting their only way off of the cylindrical cities. For some reason, or another humanity is about to face Armageddon several times over, and they are slowly waking from their suspended cubicles only to be dropped out on the street, and blasted/abducted by the robotic alien life forms who are attacking. You, and your ship will not only aid these poor helpless human beings in their time of need, but will also fight against wave after wave of alien spacecraft in the process.

First Impressions - "Blacklight: Retribution (PS4)"

PC owners were the first to get their hands on this futuristic FPS multiplayer experience known as, "Blacklight: Retribution, and will no doubt have already turned away from the PC version seeing as it is old news. For all of us PS4 owners, and dedicated console players though this Scifi inspired shooter is a new thing, and one that should definitely not be overlooked. The fact that it's free-to-play gives you no reason to skip it, even though you may not be inclined to spend actual money on DLC content. From a personal point of view I can tell you that the game definitely has it's pros, and cons. The gameplay which can be described as run & gun friendly is a welcome addition to the FPS genre due to the fact that you can actually run & gun. The standard issue offerings that require no money to use also make for a welcome addition to gameplay. If you are a gamer that is looking to impress though, and wish to show your online prowess with your weapons loadouts, and perks then Zombie Studios does offer a payment plan for such things. You merely have to exchange your PSN credit for some Zcoins, and you are ready to shop.

Zen Pinball 2 (PS4)

By now you know that I'm sold on Zen Studios' pinball related arcade games. I've covered nearly every table, and every set released on both the "Pinball FX2", and "Zen Pinball" formats. While last generation's offerings are still good to this day I have to say that next generation's is even more impressive than that. Not only are the graphics enhanced, but the gameplay itself is more fluid than ever before. Scoring high is now an easier task due to the next-gen upgrade, and the complimentary PS4 controller (which is truly a spectacle in itself). Sadly though not every table from the previous "Pinball FX2", and "Zen Pinball" iterations have made their way over to the new consoles. Sony ended up limiting the amount of tables Zen Studios could include. As such the developer had to pick, and choose the best from the lot.

Do Not Fall (PSN)

During my playthrough of XPEC's latest release of "Do Not Fall" a couple of things kept on popping up in the back of my mind. One such thought was that the main character "PiPi" reminded me an awful lot of the old "Nestle Quick" bunny from the animated television commercials, and secondly that the name "PiPi" reminded me of something I ought not mention here (Childish Laughter Follows ^.^). The game as odd as it is revolves around some interesting characters/creatures, and their pursuit to make the ultimate drink via the inside worlds of a vending machine. Some of you may not be sold on such an off-the-wall idea, but it's these out-of-the-box creations that generally gain most of my respect when it comes to video game offerings. The developer definitely knew what they were doing with the design, and theme of the game, and executed it all in what I like to call a "Perfect Storm". Do Not Fall, as cutesy as it may appear is a hardcore mind !@#$% that will have you returning for more, and cussing as you try your hardest to perfect your playthroughs. While this description would likely turn away a lot of you it's certainly not a bad thing.

Spartacus Legends (PSN): "First Impressions"

When it comes to Roman mythology, and history I'm a diehard fan. I have spent hours upon hours of my life at the schools' libraries as well as local libraries reading up on Spartan conquests, gladiators, and all the gory details associated with both. It seems to me though that as interesting as these subjects are, and have been in the past to people that the hype about them did not increase until films such as "300", and television series like "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" came into being. Speaking of which, I can't help but think of the phrase that Gerard Butler so brilliantly quoted in the film "300" ("THIS IS SPAAARTA!!!" xD) every time I hear something with the word "Sparta" in it. In fact this morning I came up with my own parody version of the quote, and it goes something like this, "THIS IS SPAAARTA-CUS!!!". As cheesy as that likely sounds I can't help, but quote it every time I get into a "Spartacus Legends" match. For those of you who are unaware of it, Spartacus Legends (a Free-to-Play) game was released today on the PSN store. This means PS3 owners get first dibs at sampling the new fighting experience. Xbox 360 owners will get their chance tomorrow.

Tekken Revolution (PS3): "Follow-Up Review"

As promised I spent some quality time getting familiar with Tekken Revolution, it's unique offerings, and it's unusual departure from the core mechanics of previous Tekken games. The fact remains that the game still plays heavily on the punishing mechanics that most of you touch base with in any Tekken match, and in doing so feels nothing like the traditional Tekken fighters of old. The "Free-to-Play" aspect is another matter all in itself, one which I'm not entirely sure about just yet. Unfortunately for that topic I will not be able to give you a definitive opinion until Namco has finished with the trial phases of the game. I can, and will however explain the game in better detail for those looking to join the others who are interested in this particular Tekken spin-off.

Tekken Revolution (PS3): "First Impressions"

When I first watched the trailer of this latest installment of the Tekken series I was truly mesmerized. The game looked gorgeous, and the fact that it was going to be a Free-to-Play exclusive for the PS3 made it seem even more special. The fact of the matter is that not everything we see in the world of gaming is as it seems though, and Tekken Revoulution unfortunately serves as a reminder of this. When you hear the term Free-to-Play in association with a game release it usually means that there are strings attached. Just how many strings, and the extent of those strings all depend on the developer releasing the game to the public. Some Free-to-Play games can be quite enjoyable, offering enough to the gamer to be fine without any additional DLC purchases. In the case of Tekken Revolution however this is not the situation.